Pneumatic display

ABSTRACT

A pneumatic display device, comprising a plate block embodying a plurality of superimposed transparent plates, each of these plates being provided with means defining a disc guide channel. Each disc guide channel has a first air channel followed by a supply section for a plurality of non-transparent display discs displaceably arranged in a row therein, a display section following such supply section, said display section being in the form of a trace line for symbolizing a character at the region of a display zone limited by a display window provided at a nontransparent cover plate of the plate block. At the end of the display section such merges into a second air channel. Upon blowing air into the first air channel of a preselected plate the display discs thereof are displaced out of the supply section thereof into the display section thereof and thereby become visible at the display zone in the form of a desired character and upon further blowing air into the second air channel these display discs are again forced back into the supply section of the relevant disc guide channel.

United States Patent 1191 Schilter July 31, 1973 PNEUMATIC DISPLAY Primary ExaminerRobert W. Michell [75] Inventor: Max Schilter, Zurich, Switzerland Ass'stam Exammer Geol-ge Yahwak Attorney-Werner W. Kleeman [73] Assignee: Contraves AG, Zurich, Switzerland [22] Filed: Sept. 29, 1971 [57] ABSTRACT 21 A i PP No 184,688 A pneumatic display device, comprising a plate block embodying a plurality of superimposed transparent o g Application Priority Data plates, each of these plates being provided with means Oct. 27, 1970 Switzerland 15853/70 fi g a c guide cha nel. Each disc guide channel has a first air channel followed by a supply section for [52] US. Cl 40/37, 40/ 106.21 40/l06.25, a plurality of non-transparent display discs displaceably 40/106 52 arranged in a row therein, a display section following [51] Int. Cl. 609i 11/06 such pp y section, said p y section being in the [58] Field of Search 40/37, 106.21, 106.52, f of a trace line for symbolizing a character at the 40/135, 106.25, 28 C; 35/37, 53 region of a display zone limited by a display window provided at a non-transparent cover plate of the plate [56] i References Cit d block. At the end of the display section such merges UNITED STATES PATENTS into a second air channel. Upon blowing airinto the first air channel of a preselected plate the display discs 5: 2: thereof are displaced out of the supply section thereof 3:388:490 6/1968 iggg: Ira into the display section thereof and thereby become 3,562,938 2/1971 Salam 40/28 c visible at the display Zone in the form of a desired char- 3,249,302 5/1966 some; 40/37 X acter and upon further blowing air into the second air 3,321,857 5/1967 Schroer 40/37 channel these display discs are again forced back into 1,504,883 8/1924 Fazio 40/l06.2l the supply section of the relevant disc guide channel. 2,890,537 6/1959 Benko 40/37 1 5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures l a 1 1 I l T l 5*; 1 i T 11 1 l t 11 H 1 ,4 fa I l I l l I 25 PNEUMATIC DISPLAY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a new and improved pneumatic display device for selectively portraying characters, such as numbers, symbols, signs, or otherwise.

Different types of character display devices are already known to the art where it is possible to render visible a multiplicity of characters, numbers for instance, by appropriately controlling such plurality of characters. Therefore, in this regard there is known, for instance, electrically operated character displayfluorescent tubes. In the case of pneumatically operated systems, there is present a real requirement for purely pneumatically operated display devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a primary object of this invention to provide a novel construction of pneumatic display device which is extremely reliable in operation, economical to manufacture, not readily subject to malfunction, and requires a minimum of servicing and maintenance.

Another object of this invention relates to a novel pneumatic display device wherein solely through pneumatic power it is possible to selectively portray different characters in a visual field in a most simple, accurate and reliable fashion.

Now, in order to implement these and still further objects of the invention, which will become more readily apparent as the description proceeds, the pneumatic display device of this invention is manifested by the features that there is provided a plate block incorporating a number of transparent plate members which are mounted above one another or in superimposed fashion. Each such plate member incorporates a disc guide channel having a substantially rectangular crosssectional configuration which, starting from a first air channel forms a supply section for a multiplicity of non-transparent indicator or display discs displaceably arranged therein in a row with play, and following this supply section forming a display or indication section in the form of a trace or curved line for symbolizing a character at the region of a nontransparent cover plate of the plate block within a display window limited by a display zone or field, and at the end of this display section transforms into a second air channel in such a manner that upon blowing-in air into the first air channel of a preselected plate member the display discs are displaced out of the supply section thereof into the display section of the relevant disc guide channel, and therefore renders such visible in the form of a character at the display field and upon subsequent blowing-in air into the second air channel such display discs are again driven back into the supply channel of the relevant disc guide channel.

In order to prevent the transfer of the display discs out of the disc guide channel into the therewith connected air channel, there is advantageously provided a narrowing of the transition location from the beginning of the supply channel of the disc guide channel to the first air channel and similarly the transition location of the display section of the disc guide channel to the second air channel.

The display discs are advantageously constructed as circular discs with truncated conical side surfaces, for instance formed as plastic pressed or cast parts having a diameter of approximately 4.7 millimeters and a maximum thickness of approximately 0.85 millimeters when utilizing disc guide channels of 5 millimeters width and 1 millimeter depth. With these dimensions and relationships it is possible to connect each of both air channels of the disc guide channel of a plate member directly at a respective output of an associated pneumatically controlled fluidic element in such a manner that during one operating condition of this fluidic element the display discs are driven into the display section of the associated disc guide channel and in the other operating condition of such fluidic element are driven into its supply section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a preferred embodiment of display device;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the display device depicted in FIG. 1, taken substantially along the line 11-" thereof; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view through a disc guide channel with a therein disposed display disc.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Describing now the drawing, it is to be understood that a multiplicity of substantially planar parellelly arranged plates are combined, for instance, by threadably connecting such with one another, into a plate block 20. In FIG. 2 such plate block 20 is illustrated and reference character G designates its base plate formed of any suitable non-transparent material upon which is placed a light passage-plate L formed of suitable glass clear transparent material, for instance acrylic resin, with smooth ground flank or side portions 21. Arranged on top of the light passage-plate L are a number of, for instance 10, display or indicator plates A0, A9, A8 A2, A1, each likewise formed of a transparent material. These indicator plates A0, A9, A8, and so forth, each contain at their associated base surface a respective channel K constructed in the form of an appropriate continuous trace or line. The channels K of any given indicator plate, with the exception of the last one, such as plate A0, are closed by the rearface of the plate mounted thereover. On top of the uppermost indicator or display plate A0 there is mounted a cover plate D, likewise formed of transparent material. On top of the cover plate D there is placed a front plate F formed of non-transparent material. This front plate F is equipped with a window cut-out or recess Fl which leaves free therein a display zone or field 22.

Now, in FIG. 1 there is illustrated the channel K of the uppermost display plate A0. This plate is constructed to display the character 0 by means of its channel K. Each of these channels K of the display plates defines a disc guide channel and consists of four sections, namely a first air channel section Kl, a supply channel section K2 of the disc guide channel, an indicator section K3 of the disc guide channel as well as a second air channel section K4. Only the indicator section K3 of the disc guide channel of each display or indicator plate Al, A2, A3 and so forth is disposed at the region of the indicator or display zone 22 defined by the window section F1 of the front plate F. These indicator or display sections K3 are each constructed as traces or curved lines for symbolizing a respective character, for instance as depicted in FIG. 1 symbolizing or portraying the numeral 0. The supply section K2 between the indicator section K3 and the first air channel Kl merges without any narrowing or tapering-down of its crosssection into the indicator or display section K3. On the other hand, the respective transition regions 25 and 26 from the first air channel Kl to the supply section K2 and from the indicator or display section K3 to the second air channel K4 are tapered or narrowed, as shown in FIG. 1.

The actual disc guide channel proper, incorporating the channel sections K2 and K3, contains therein for sliding movement with play a multiplicity of circular indicator or display discs AS formed of a nontransparent material, for instance colored plastic. As

best seen by referring to FIG. 3, the side surfaces of each indicator or display disc AS are formed as truncated cones. The number of display discs AS which are to be used must be large enough that they are sufiicient to completely fill the display section K3 of the relevant disc guide channel at the display zone, and the length of the supply section K2 of each disc guide channel must be sufficient for accommodating all of the display discs AS.

The air channels Kl for each disc guide channel K are guided or lead up to a respective transverse bore, similarly the air channels K4. These transverse bores are arranged in a grid field indicated by the character in such a way that they, without intersecting another channel, permit connecting the channels of each display plate A1, A2, A3, etc. at both ends to an air infeed.

Thus, according to the arrangement of FIG. 1 the transverse bores of the plate A0 for the air channels K1 and K4 are connected with both outputs 23 and 24 of a fluidic element E which under the influence of a pneumatic control signal El conducts air via output 23 to the air channel K1. This air current is sufficient in order to drive all of the display discs AS out of the supply section K2 into the indicator section K3 of the relevant disc guide channel, so that the numeral 0 is visible. As soon as the signal El at the fluidic element E is no longer efiective, then air flows to the other output 24, that is to say, to the air channel K4. Consequently, the display discs AS are driven out of the display section K3 and back into the supply section K2, and thereafter a different character can be rendered visible.

As long as there is ensured that sufficient light can enter through the flanks or sides of the light inlet plate L, for instance daylight or artificial light, and as long as the inside surfaces of the base plate G and the front plate F absorb very little light, it is possible to selectively clearly portray or indicate with the illustrated and described display apparatus at least ten different characters.

While there is shown and described present preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be distincly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims. Accordingly,

What is claimed is:

l. A pneumatic display device, comprising a plate block incorporating a plurality of superimposed transparent plates and a non-transparent cover plate having a display window defining a character display zone, each of said transparent plates being provided with means defining a disc guide channel having substantially rectangular cross-sectional configuration, each disc guide channel having a first air channel and a supply section which communicates with said first air channel, said first air channel having a reduced crosssection immediately adjacent said supply section, a plurality of adjacently positioned non-transparent display discs displaceably arranged in said supply section and being displaceably retained in said supply section by said reduced cross-section, a display section following said supply section said display section being in the form of a channel for symbolizing a character at the region of said display zone delimited by said display window provided at said non-transparent cover plate of said plate block, said display section merging at the end thereof into a second air channel, said second air channel having a reduced cross-section immediately adjacent said display section to keep said discs from entering therein, means for introducing air into the first air channel of a preselected transparent plate and for displacing the display discs out of the supply section thereof into the display section thereof and thereby become visible at the display zone in the form of a desired character and means for introducing air into said second air channel and for returning said display discs back into said supply section of the relevant disc guide channel.

2. The display device as defined in claim I, wherein said display discs are fonned as substantially circular discs having truncated conical side surfaces.

3. The display device as defined in claim 1, wherein said air introducing means is a pneumatically controlled fluidic element each of both of said air channels arranged at the disc guide channel of a given plate are associated with a respective output of said associated pneumatically controlled fluidic element in such a manner that in one operating condition of the fiuidic element the display discs are driven into the display section of the associated disc guide channel and in the other operating condition of the fluidic element such display discs are driven into the supply section.

4. A pneumatic display device, comprising a plate block incorporating a plurality of superimposed plates and a cover plate member having a display window defining a character display zone, each of said superimposed plates being provided with means defining a disc guide channel, each disc guide channel having a first air channel followed by a supply section containing a plurality of non-transparent display discs diaplaceably arranged therein, said first air channel having a reduced cross-section immediately adjacent said supply section, said discs being displaceably retained in said supply section by said reduced cross-section, a display section following said supply section, and a second air channel following said display section, said display section being configured to symbolize a given character at the region of said display zone of said cover plate member of said plate block, said display section merging at the end thereof into said second air channel, said second air channel having a reduced cross-section immediately adjacent said display section to keep said discs from entering therein so thatupon blowing air into the first air channel of a preselected one of said superimposed plates the display discs thereof are displaced out of the supply section thereof into the display section thereof cator discs from its indicator position; and thereby become visible at the display zone in the (1. each of said plate channels including an indicator form of a desired character and upon blowing air into h l element positioned and arranged within said second air channel said display discs are again the indicating zone f said plate member in a forcefi back into said pp y Section of the correspond- 5 determined pattern which corresponds to the charing dlsc l acter to be indicated, one end of said indicator A p y dtfvlce lf channel element being constricted, the other end havmg a of plate members each of the indicator channel section element also being i z iti gemgdformed g 59"; constricted at the air inlet connection of said chanma cna an an arrange one e m nel section, the length of the channel being at least another to form a package, said frame having an indicating window aligned with corresponding indicating regions of each of said plate members;

b. each plate member including a respective channel which extends along a curved line, said channel s communicating with a first air conduit connection and with a second air conduit connection; means of said pressurized air to the indicator secc. reversible air control means associated with said lion and he eafter by means of oppositely directed indicator plate members for delivering pressurized pr ssurized air are return d back t said n l air to select plate channels for moving indicator section. discs in indicating position and for removing indias long as the indicator channel element; and

e. a plurality of visually-noticeable, movable, loose indicator discs substantially filling said channel section having a diameter slightly smaller than the said channel whereby said discs are movable therein by 

1. A pneumatic display device, comprising a plate block incorpoRating a plurality of superimposed transparent plates and a non-transparent cover plate having a display window defining a character display zone, each of said transparent plates being provided with means defining a disc guide channel having substantially rectangular cross-sectional configuration, each disc guide channel having a first air channel and a supply section which communicates with said first air channel, said first air channel having a reduced cross-section immediately adjacent said supply section, a plurality of adjacently positioned non-transparent display discs displaceably arranged in said supply section and being displaceably retained in said supply section by said reduced cross-section, a display section following said supply section said display section being in the form of a channel for symbolizing a character at the region of said display zone delimited by said display window provided at said non-transparent cover plate of said plate block, said display section merging at the end thereof into a second air channel, said second air channel having a reduced cross-section immediately adjacent said display section to keep said discs from entering therein, means for introducing air into the first air channel of a preselected transparent plate and for displacing the display discs out of the supply section thereof into the display section thereof and thereby become visible at the display zone in the form of a desired character and means for introducing air into said second air channel and for returning said display discs back into said supply section of the relevant disc guide channel.
 2. The display device as defined in claim 1, wherein said display discs are formed as substantially circular discs having truncated conical side surfaces.
 3. The display device as defined in claim 1, wherein said air introducing means is a pneumatically controlled fluidic element each of both of said air channels arranged at the disc guide channel of a given plate are associated with a respective output of said associated pneumatically controlled fluidic element in such a manner that in one operating condition of the fluidic element the display discs are driven into the display section of the associated disc guide channel and in the other operating condition of the fluidic element such display discs are driven into the supply section.
 4. A pneumatic display device, comprising a plate block incorporating a plurality of superimposed plates and a cover plate member having a display window defining a character display zone, each of said superimposed plates being provided with means defining a disc guide channel, each disc guide channel having a first air channel followed by a supply section containing a plurality of non-transparent display discs displaceably arranged therein, said first air channel having a reduced cross-section immediately adjacent said supply section, said discs being displaceably retained in said supply section by said reduced cross-section, a display section following said supply section, and a second air channel following said display section, said display section being configured to symbolize a given character at the region of said display zone of said cover plate member of said plate block, said display section merging at the end thereof into said second air channel, said second air channel having a reduced cross-section immediately adjacent said display section to keep said discs from entering therein so that upon blowing air into the first air channel of a preselected one of said superimposed plates the display discs thereof are displaced out of the supply section thereof into the display section thereof and thereby become visible at the display zone in the form of a desired character and upon blowing air into said second air channel said display discs are again forced back into said supply section of the corresponding disc guide channel.
 5. A display device comprising: a. a frame having a plurality of plate members, each of said plate members being fOrmed of transparent material and positioned and arranged one behind another to form a package, said frame having an indicating window aligned with corresponding indicating regions of each of said plate members; b. each plate member including a respective channel which extends along a curved line, said channel communicating with a first air conduit connection and with a second air conduit connection; c. reversible air control means associated with said indicator plate members for delivering pressurized air to select plate channels for moving indicator discs in indicating position and for removing indicator discs from its indicator position; d. each of said plate channels including an indicator channel element positioned and arranged within the indicating zone of said plate member in a predetermined pattern which corresponds to the character to be indicated, one end of said indicator channel element being constricted, the other end of the indicator channel section element also being constricted at the air inlet connection of said channel section, the length of the channel being at least as long as the indicator channel element; and e. a plurality of visually-noticeable, movable, loose indicator discs substantially filling said channel section having a diameter slightly smaller than the said channel whereby said discs are movable therein by means of said pressurized air to the indicator section and thereafter by means of oppositely directed pressurized air are returned back to said channel section. 